Topic Summary

Posted by: StephWard27

I cannot emphasise enough the importance of doing your research. I had an interview at Newcastle University and I actually looked up the interview panel in the run up to the interview to ensure I had intelligent things to say to them that piqued their interest or was in their area of expertise. It worked - I got the place! The same thing applies to job interviews.

If you are able to fire their buzzwords back at them, they will be seriously impressed too.

And finally, most companies will ask for two forms of ID, including a passport or driving license, and proof of address no older than three months old. And if you get an interview, TAKE IT WITH YOU! A friend of mine forgot one thing in an interview with Asda, and they wouldn't even let her sign in, so she didn't even get interviewed. A hard lesson learned.

Posted by: john67

It is also really important to make sure that you check that there are jobs available before your resign or tell anyone you want to leave. You may find that you are too quick to resign and find you have no where to go. It would not be easy to change your mind. Does anyone else agree?

Posted by: gemmacareers

You have to be able to tell them exactly why you're changing jobs, because you need to be open and honest with them. If you've been in the same job for a while then you might not be all that good at interviews, so you should definitely make sure that you have perfected the answers that you're going to be giving on the day. If you come across well, there's no reason that you shouldn't be able to change your job.

Posted by: Learnist Careers

At some point in time people always change jobs for a number of reasons, it is important though to be prepared before doing so, so that you come out to a potential new employer in a good light.

See below for things you should be doing before changing jobs.

1 Update your CV

Updating your CV is probably the first most important thing you need to do before applying for jobs. If you have not updated your skills from your latest position and to what reflects the job you want to apply for then how can a future potential employer be able to see what are the skills they most want from you and what makes them want to employ you. Ensure that when updating your CV you use clear language concentrating on buzz words that you know will be of interest to a company you are applying for.Related: 11 Tips to Improve Your CV for a Better Job Hunt

2 Perfect your covering letter

It is always important to tailor your covering letter to each job that you are applying for. Ensure that you use clear language explaining that you are applying for a particular role, using any job references if they have any so that it is clear to the person reading your application which job you are applying for. This is especially important if it is a big company and they could have a few vacancies at any one time.Write your second paragraph of your letter about your skills that is relevant to the job advert or job description so that a potential employer can instantly see what you are able to offer them in line with what they are looking for.

3 Update your skills where necessary

It may be necessary to update your skills before applying for another job so that you have the latest skills that they are looking for. It’s very easy to be comfortable with your skill set and not do any further learning but sometimes it could be necessary to re visit this and see if there is anything that could be learnt or approved on.

4 Do your research before applying for jobs

This is a very important requirement before applying for any jobs. Ensure that at very least you have been through a company website and or information but depending on the role for example if it is within a shop, go along and pay a visit, pretend to be a mystery shopper and see what you can find out about how this company operates.Related: Top 10 Indicators That You Need to Find a New Job

5 Make sure that you actually need to change jobs

Why do you want to look for another job? Do you want a fresh challenge or is there something that with a simple review from your Manager could give you a fresh pair of eyes to work towards? It sometimes seems the easiest solution to find another job but sometimes the grass isn’t always greener so it is worth bearing that in mind before leaving a stable environment.

6 Practice your interview answers

If you have gone so far as to get an interview then before you will get a new job you need to make sure that you have perfected your interview answers. Practice is key here. Although you cannot be sure to know what you will be asked, it is fairly obvious that you will be asked questions such as about your skills and how they are relevant to the job on offer, what you can bring to their team, what do you know about the company and why do you want to work for them. By focusing on these areas you can practice and plan in your mind what you would say if they question arises. It’s important to know your CV inside out to be able to demonstrate and explain your skills well to a new employer.

7 Documentation

Ensure that you have all the documentation you need to get a new job, your ID, previous pay slips in case you need to prove your previous salary and or bonuses plus your up to date CV, any research or presentation material you have been asked for, proof of driving licence if your job involves a car.

Getting a new job is always freshing and keeps people on their toes with regards to their own skills and development but ensure that you have done your research and know where the role is based, how you will get there, how you will travel there etc, all the things that you take for granted but are important.

9 Get 2 good referees ready

Companies always want references so it is important to make sure that you have 2 contactable referees that you can provide the details for. Even if you have them pre typed out in letter form from leaving a previous employment it is still advisable to have their contact details for a future employer to contact them with. Don’t hide anything that is negative though, companies have a habit of finding out which can be very awkward and embarrassing and may mean that you are unsuccessful.

10 Stand out from the crowd

Finally make sure that you always stand out from the crowd. What makes an employer want to choose you? Make sure that you are always presentable; you speak well and come across well. Make sure that you have done your upmost so far in your career and that you can demonstrate that you can be a good addition to their company.